long-term soil productivity based upon the implementation of mitigation measures 

 to control the area and degree of detrimental soil impacts to less than 15% of the 

 proposed harvest area. A combination of skidding and site preparation 

 mitigations would include: restricting the season of use to periods when soil is 

 dry, frozen, or snow covered; utilizing a minimum of skid trail spacing; installing 

 erosion control in trails and corridors where needed; retaining woody debris; 

 targeting less than 50% bare soil exposure with site prep following all applicable 

 BMP's. 



Table 4-1: Estimated maximum acres of soil impacts from harvest methods 



2. Cumulative Effects 



No Action Alternative; The no action alternative would have no cumulative 

 impacts on soil productivity. No soil would be disturbed under this altemative 

 and no re-entry of past harvest units would occur with the no action altemative. 



Action Alternative: The action altemative would enter some stands that have 

 been previously harvested. Cumulative effects to soils may occur from repeated 

 entries into a forested stand, where additional ground is impacted by equipment 

 operations. DNRC would maintain long-term productivity and minimize 

 cumulative effects by application of Best Management Practices and 

 implementation of the soil mitigations that include using existing skid trails, 

 installing erosion control features, skid trail spacing, and soil moisture 

 restrictions. In addition, 10 to 15 tons of coarse woody debris and fine litter 

 would be retained per acre for long-term nutrient cycling. 



in. WILDLIFE EFFECTS 



Coarse Filter Assessment 



1. Direct and Indirect EfTects 



No Action Alternative: Forest conditions would continue to move toward denser 

 stands of shade-tolerant tree species with high canopy cover. No immediate 

 changes are anticipated in the patch size, shape, or connectivity. Over time, 

 shade-intolerant tree species in the proposed units would die, and dense shade- 

 tolerant species in the midstory would prevent replacement of shade-intolerant 

 species. A stagnated, dense stand of Douglas-fir and grand fir would likely result. 

 Under this altemative, no changes in diversity of wildlife species are expected; 



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